NEW DELHI: Warning that the latest petrol and diesel price rise will have a cascading effect on the prices of various essential commodities and upset household budgets at various levels, Bharatiya Janata Party workers led by its president Rajnath Singh hit the streets here on Wednesday in protest against the steep hikes announced by the Union Government on Monday.

Flagging off the protest at Moti Nagar Chowk in West Delhi, Mr. Singh said it had now been proved that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not the one who was actually ruling.

"The reins of power are in the hands of Super Prime Minister Sonia Gandhi. This is the reason why Ms. Gandhi was issuing direct instructions to Union Petroleum and Gas Minister Murli Deora on the price hike issue,'' he said.

Demanding a complete withdrawal of the fuel price hike, Mr. Rajnath Singh said the BJP would continue the agitation till the Union Government gives relief to the people of the country.

Lashing out at the Left parties, Mr. Singh said they were indulging in double standards and political drama by staging symbolic protests. "If the Left parties are really the sympathisers of the poor then they should withdraw their support to this anti-people Union Government or stop pretending.''

Mr. Singh warned that the cost of transportation and production of goods would go up due to the fuel hike.

The protesting BJP workers brought traffic to a halt in the area to mark their protest. Later they were taken into preventive custody and released.

Also present at the Moti Nagar demonstration were Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan; national BJP secretary Vijay Goel; Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi; and Leader of the House in MCD Subhash Arya, besides party MLAs Harsharan Singh Balli, Subhash Sachdeva, S.P. Ratawal, Moti Lal Sodhi, O.P. Babbar, Dayanand Chandela and Puran Chand Yogi.

Speaking on the occasion, South Delhi MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra charged that Ms. Gandhi had got into the habit of issuing directions to the Prime Minister and other Union Ministers by writing when in fact she should just summon them and sort out the situation. ``

All this was being done only to mislead the people so that they get the message that Ms. Gandhi was concerned about their welfare. The reality is that Ms. Gandhi has fully approved the increase in price of diesel and petrol and is now indulging in antics to escape the wrath of the masses." The BJP leaders and workers also undertook "Chakka Jam'' at several places across the Capital.

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